Not having a gun points to a lack of knowledge and experience; or an overly inflated ego. For whatever reason you seem to think a tv personality (Mors) has more knowledge and experience than a true First Nations member (Tsitenhsa) whose living depends on the outdoors and has done most of his life, as well as others of us who've hunted since we were old enough to toddle behind Daddy or the dogs.
Besides, half the point of going to a true wilderness area is the adventure. That usually includes hunting dangerous game.
As they say, "if you are a hammer, every problem looks like a nail" - if you are a gun enthusiast, then I guess every situation calls for a gun - preferably a big one.
The OP's question was not "What type of gun should I take when hunting bear" but what sort of "defensive tools" would be appropriate to guard against the risk of dangerous animals while wild camping in Europe. People on this forum seem to be an inclusive bunch and its always interesting to hear perspectives from other places but the problem is that as soon as you do the discussion seems to invariably slew off in the direction of "Here in (North) 'Murica the critters in the woods are incredibly dangerous and only a fool would head off into the woods without a gun" followed by lots of argument as to how big/many guns you need.
You guys like your guns and I would no more expect to convince you that they are not an essential part of life either in urban or wild areas than I would no more expect to be able to convince a religious fundamentalist (of whatever persuasion) that their view of the world and afterlife may not be the only one but the reality seems that more people die in the USA each year after being shot by toddlers (admittedly that does include kids who kill themselves) than are killed by bears, wolves and mountain lions combined. The gun related carnage in the US may be a price you guys are willing to pay for your right to bear arms but some people on this side of the pond wonder whether you have got your priorities right although if it makes you feel any better, most people over here also think that Piers Morgan is a d!ckhead albeit for different reasons!
I don't have an issue with guns per se and although I don't own a gun and if my needs (by which I mean vermin control or protein acquisition for personal use) change, I would happily acquire one but I don't get horny about guns or at the prospect of taking one into a "combat" or "self-defence" situation, as another responder to this thread put it. I've spent a fair bit of time travelling and working in some fairly wild and woolly places and if I'm going somewhere where an objective assessment of the risks and/or local laws dictate that an appropriately armed person accompanies me then needs must but having guns around doesn't automatically make me feel safer - perhaps having a SMLE rammed up my nose by a ranger who turned, tripped and fell taking me down with him while tracking elephants on foot has something to do with it!
Bushcraft is a broad church (other religions are available and IMHO equally (in)valid)) and each to their own but for me the WHOLE point of going into a true wilderness area is to appreciate the beauty of being in the wild, returning unscathed with (hopefully) some decent photographs of the environs and its wildlife (and sometimes the indigenous people) and with a better insight into their behaviour but leaving both pretty much as I found them.
Given the numbers of people in US killed and injured in "friendly fire" hunting accidents 2013 was heralded as a good year in New York State (I've no idea how representative this is of the other 49 states) with 19 shootings and only 2 fatalities - yay!
, the wildlife is far from the biggest hazard in the woods.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/95689.html
Personally I'd be more nervous taking a midnight leak if I was sharing a camping area with a bunch of paranoid gun enthusiasts (sober or otherwise) sleeping with a gun next to their sleeping bag than I would about the local wildlife.
Back to the OP's question - the risks are incredibly small but since bears (regardless of the statistical evidence to the contrary) are perceived as the most dangerous things in the woods here is some feedback from someone who lives in European "bear country". Last year I spent some time listening to a presentation by a Rumanian lady keen to introduce the Brits to her fine range of rustic cuisine which included her delicious bear sausages. When asked about the dangers of living in "bear country", she replied that sometimes the younger kids get a bit frightened when out foraging if they find a bear on the opposite side of the bush they are collecting from but they weren't a serious danger.
IME badly behaved dogs are the biggest nuisance/threat in the UK - I've been bitten (mauled?) at least 4 times over the last few years (enough to draw blood/tear clothes but nothing serious) and always feel more comfortable with a walking pole when out and about though I do like the look of Mors' bear bat.
Safe travels and watch out for those cows.
again....)
